If you’re scrolling LinkedIn with the green “Open to Work” banner across your profile photo, you’re not alone. Thousands of professionals are between roles right now, navigating uncertain job markets, corporate restructures, and shifting industries.

Being unemployed or underemployed, is stressful. It can take a toll on your confidence and your outlook. But here’s the truth: the time you have right now is also an opportunity. It’s an opening to invest in yourself, to build the skills that employers are actively looking for, and to ensure that when opportunity knocks, you’re ready to step through the door.

Too many people waste this time. They dwell on setbacks, scroll endlessly, or send out hundreds of applications without making themselves stand out. The job market is more competitive than ever, and employers are not just looking at your technical credentials, they want to see that you can communicate, influence, collaborate, negotiate, and lead.

These are Power Skills. And they are what will set you apart.

Why Power Skills matter now

For years, organisations have spoken about “soft skills.” But there’s nothing soft about them. They’re the hardest to master and the most valuable in the workplace. That’s why we call them Power Skills. They give you the power to succeed in any role, across industries.

Think about it:

• The best communicator in the room gets heard.
• The best negotiator secures win–win outcomes.
• The most emotionally intelligent leader earns trust.
• The facilitator who can manage a room gets projects moving.
• The professional who can handle challenging behaviours doesn’t just survive, they thrive.

Whether you’re applying for your first role, transitioning industries, or aiming to step back into leadership, these skills are the bridge. Employers repeatedly say they’re struggling to find candidates who can combine technical expertise with strong Power Skills.

That’s where you come in. By investing in yourself now, you can meet that need and move to the front of the line.

Don’t waste this time

It’s natural to feel knocked down after losing a job. But the worst thing you can do is let time pass without growth. The job hunt is unpredictable, and you can’t control when the right role will come up. What you can control is how you show up for it.

Instead of spending weeks sending out the same CV, ask yourself:

• Am I building skills employers are desperate for?
• Am I investing in myself so I don’t just wait, I prepare?
• Am I using this “in-between” time to position myself ahead of other applicants?

Power Skills courses are designed to be short, practical, and immediately applicable. In just a day, you can learn how to facilitate more effectively, communicate with confidence, manage conflict, or lead teams with emotional intelligence.

That means you can take action now, without needing months of study, and walk into your next interview with fresh skills and proof that you’ve used this time wisely.

The Power Skills courses available to you

At Power Skills by PM-Partners, we’ve developed a suite of one-day courses that deliver practical, career-shaping outcomes. Each is focused on building the skills that matter most to employers:

• Building and Leading a Team – learn how to inspire, motivate, and drive high performance in any workplace.
• Effective Facilitation – develop the ability to lead group sessions that reach decisions, solve problems, and deliver results.
• Communicating with Impact – discover how to present with clarity and confidence, whether in an interview or the boardroom.
• Delivering Powerful Presentations – transform how you structure and deliver messages so you captivate any audience.
• Engaging Stakeholders Effectively – master the art of influence and build trusted relationships across all levels.
• Facilitating for Results – sharpen the skills needed to keep groups focused and drive towards actionable outcomes.
• Leading Effective Negotiations – gain the tools to negotiate persuasively and reach agreements that last.
• Managing Challenging Behaviour – learn strategies to stay composed and turn difficult interactions into constructive ones.
• Writing for Success – improve the clarity, structure, and impact of your written communication.
• Optimising Interactions with Emotional Intelligence – build awareness, empathy, and resilience to strengthen your relationships.
• Coaching for High-Performing Teams – unlock the potential of those around you through coaching conversations that drive growth.

Each of these courses is designed with people like you in mind. Professionals who want quick wins, real confidence, and skills that translate immediately into employability.

Find your starting point with Power Match

If you’re wondering where to start, the good news is you don’t have to guess. Our free Power Match tool helps you identify which skills will deliver the biggest impact for your career goals.

In just a few minutes, you’ll get tailored recommendations based on your role, aspirations, and challenges. It’s the simplest way to map your next move and make sure you’re investing in the right skills for your future.

A message to everyone “Open to Work”

Being open to work doesn’t mean being idle. It doesn’t mean waiting passively for recruiters to call or hoping your old job comes back. It means being open to growth, open to change, and open to building the skills that employers need.

Imagine walking into your next interview and saying:

“Yes, I’ve been out of work for a few months. But during that time, I’ve invested in myself. I’ve completed training in communication, leadership, and negotiation. Skills I know will make me more effective in this role.”

What employer wouldn’t be impressed by that?

By reframing your downtime as an investment period, you turn what could be seen as a gap into proof of resilience and initiative. You’ll stand out from other candidates who can’t say the same.

Why employers want candidates with Power Skills

Recruiters and hiring managers consistently highlight the same challenges:

• Candidates can tick the technical boxes, but they struggle to influence.
• They have the experience, but not the ability to collaborate.
• They know the theory, but can’t present it with clarity.

In fact, LinkedIn’s own research consistently ranks communication, leadership, and collaboration among the top in-demand skills worldwide.

That means employers aren’t just looking at your CV, they’re asking, “Can this person lead a team? Can they navigate conflict? Can they win buy-in?”

By demonstrating that you’ve invested in Power Skills, you’re answering those questions before they’re asked.

What’s next

1. Acknowledge where you are – Yes, you’re open to work. That’s your starting point, not your definition.
2. Choose not to dwell – Refuse to let this time slip by unused.
3. Invest in yourself – Use the Power Match tool to identify where to start, then enrol in one of our Power Skills courses.
4. Position yourself strongly – When opportunities arise, you’ll have fresh stories, skills, and confidence to bring into every conversation.

Closing thought

You can’t control when the next opportunity appears, but you can control how ready you are to seize it. Employers are actively seeking candidates who can communicate, lead, and collaborate. Use this time to prove you’re that person.

👉 Start with our free Power Match tool to discover which Power Skills will give you the strongest advantage.
👉 Explore our full range of short, practical courses, each designed to boost confidence, sharpen capability, and make you stand out in interviews.
👉 Prefer to talk it through? Contact us to discuss your options and find the right path forward.

Being Open to Work doesn’t mean waiting; it means being open to growth, ready to step forward, and equipped with the skills employers can’t ignore. Take action today. Your next role is out there, and with the right skills, you’ll be ready to own it.